With so much backlash thrown at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards tribute to the late music legend Prince, BET has vowed to do theirs the right way with this year's BET Awards. The network has called on some of R&B, Soul and Hip Hop's greatest, like D'Angelo, Sheila E, Janelle Monae, The Roots and others, to ensure his music and legacy are iconically remembered.
Just one day before what would've been his 58th birthday, BET announced the first four acts that have been added to the 2016 BET Awards Prince Tribute. According to the site, the proper way to acknowledge the iconic figure and the impact he left on music is to not just honor him with one performance but to celebrate him throughout the entire show. To accomplish this goal, the network has confirmed the first round of performers: "Sheila E., The Roots, D'Angelo and Janelle Monae will be among those taking the stage" that night; among others who have yet to be announced.
According to the network's press release posted on their site, the concept of the tribute is to "capture the unprecedented career and musical genius of the beloved pop icon like only BET can."
Since the death of Prince Rogers Nelson on April 21, many of his fans around the world celebrated life and legacy in their own way, and were also very opinionated on who would be best suited to deliver an effective tribute in his honor. When the announcement was made revealing Madonna as a contributor in the Billboard Awards Prince Tribute, fans quickly expressed their discontent, and even started an online petition urging Billboard to reconsider their choice in the "Like a Virgin" singer, as reported by Okay Player.
When the awards show finally aired on May 22, the tribute did in fact include Madonna along with Stevie Wonder. The pair sang two songs, "Nothing Compares 2 U" and "Purple Rain," and concluded the tribute with the words, "thank you Prince Rogers Nelson, for all that you have given us," as reported by Billboard.
BET watched the performance like many others and responded with a tweet, that has since been removed, stating "Yeah, We saw that. Don't worry. We Got You."
The 2016 BET Awards airs on June 26.
Madonna & Stevie Wonder's Billboard Music... by NBATOPHIGHTLIGHT
